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Hampden pitcher Matt Palmer goes to work aganist Bangor in the third inning of the District 3 Senior League all-star tourney at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor Tuesday night Aug. 7, 2012. Buy Photo

Terry Farren/BDN

Bangor's Jon Stanhope (11) is tagged out on a close play at third by Hampden's Cody Lyons in first-inning action of the District 3 Senior League all-star tourney at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor Tuesday night Aug. 7, 2012.

BANGOR — Hampden came a huge step closer to earning its first-ever berth to the Senior League World Series on Tuesday night.

Hampden parlayed clutch hits and shoddy Bangor defense into an 8-0 lead and held on to post an 8-5 victory in their winners bracket game at the District 3 Senior League All-Star Tournament at Mansfield Stadium.

In the seventh, Lyons retired the first two hitters he faced before a hit batsman, a walk and Huston’s base hit produced the fifth run. However, on Huston’s hit, a Bangor base-runner made an ill-advised dash for third and was gunned down by plenty to end the game.

“It would have been a different game without the five errors,” said Boyce.